Can upending mechanism



Feb. 20, 1945.

F. L. KLAIBER EI'AL CAN UPENDING MECHANISM Filed March a, 1941 s SheetS-Sheet 1 JAN/ENTOR,

Feb. 20, 1945. F' KLMBER ETAL 2,369,742

CAN UPENDING MECHANISM Filed-March 3, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTO/QNE K5.

Feb. 20, 1945. F. KII AIBE R ETAL ,3 I

CAN UPENbING MECHANI SM Filed March 3, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 20, 1945. KLNBER ETAL 2,369,742

CAN UPENDING MECHANISM Filed Mafch 5, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 //v VENTORE. X/g M M M ATTO/Q/WFYJ.

Feb. 20, 1945.

F. KLAIBER ETAL CAN UPENDING MECHANISM Filed March 3, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTO/FS.

A ro/2N5 45 Feb. 20, 1945. F, L KLA|BER AL 2,369,742

CAN UPENDING MECHANISM Filed March 3, 1941 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 t I Patented Feb. 20, 1945 Frank L. Klaiber and Harlan C. Clark, Buffalo, N. Y., assignorsto'lt. G. Wright Company, Inc.,

Application March a, 1941, Serial No. 381,480 11 Claims. (01. 214-11) This invention relates to machines for washing and drying'milk cansand covers therefor, and particularly to the means for .up'ending the washed and dried cans, depositing the proper coversthereon, and pressing the deposited covers firmly on the respective'cans.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means for receiving the cleaned cans'in inverted positions, and upending them with a minimum of noise and injury. to the cans. Another object of the invention is to provide improvedmeans for depositing the respective covers upon the upended cans in succession with a minimum oftnoise, and always placing the cover .upon the can inuproper position to be pressed firmly into closing position on thefmouth of the can even though there may bea variation in the height of the can; with whichithe cover-deliver- I fin'g' means'willbe automaticallyadjustable forv *delivering the covers to cans of different heights; with which the deposited covers'will be pressed "into firm contact with thefcans in a simple, quiet and effective manner; with which the delivery of covers to the'cans will be prevented unless a can is in a position to receive the cover; with which I premature delivery of the covers will be prevented j with which the delivery of more than one cover at a time will be effectively prevented; and with which dangerof the discharged covers overshooting the cans will be efiectually prevented. 1 Another object of the invention i to provide an improved upending and cover applyingmechanism which will be efficient, quiet and rapid in t operation, and compact,simple and inexpensive in construction; in-which suitable safety devices may be incorporated to prevent-injury to the cans,

coversor apparatus in case of jamming of any,

of the parts, and'particularly in the case of misplacement or improper handling of the cans and covers. v I

, Other objects from the following description of some embodimerits of the invention, and novel features will be particularly 'pointedfout hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation through the delivery end of a can and cover.

washer showing the can-upending and coverapplying mechanism connected with the delivery end of the washer, and constructed in accord ance with this invention; Q t

and advantageswill be apparent Fig, 4 is a side elevation of the cover-releasin .mechanism during a release of a cover;

7 Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation through apart of the same, the section being taken approximately along the line 5--5 of- Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of part of the upending mechanismshowing a can in the process of being discharged from one cradle to the other; I v 1 -'1 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view ofpart of the unending mechanism and illustrating certain details of the second cradle;

'Fig. 8 i a transverse, sectional elevation, on .a larger scale. through the means for advancing the upright cans afterdelivery by .the second cradle,' the section being taken approximately along the line 8-8, Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the can-advancing vcarriage, and particularly illustrating the interponent. which is utilized in controlling the release of the covers; v

I Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showing the. positionqofthe interponent and of the can advancing dogs when a can is in a position to be advanced to receive its cover;

Fig. 11 is a-ira'gmentary elevation showing the connection of a crank to the link which operates the firstlcradle; 1

Fig. 12 is a'sectional elevation of the hinged end of the cover-delivery track'and of the cover- .pre's'sing mechanism, and illustrating the manner idwhichthe covers are directed upon the cans,

' the'particular positions shown being those occupiedjwhen a cover is delivered upon one of the shorter cans? Fig. 13 is a plan of' the'mechanism shown in Fig. 12; 1 I I Fig. 14 is a sectional plan of the delivery end of a washer, and of the improved upending mechanism and cover-applying mechanism constructed'in accordance with this invention, showing the parts inthe same positions as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, side elevation show- 'ing a slight modification of the means for releasing the cover .in response to the movement of a can into cover-applying position;

Fig. 2 is a fragme'ntary,=side elevationofthei delivery end of the cover-delivery mechanism to .show certain'details thereof; i

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the ,upending'and cove er-applying mechanism; with the parts in certain I positions which they occupy during theupend- 'ing-and cover-Lpplying-operation; P

, Fig. 16 is 'a sectional elevation'through a part of the upending mechanism, showing one of the safety features with the section taken approximately along theline IB-IG'of Fig. 1'7;

' Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the safetydevice shown in Fig. 16, taken approximately along the 1ine-l1l1,iFig. 16; f

Fig. 18 is a transverse, sectional elevation through the 'upending mechanism, the section being taken approximately along the line l 8l8 of-Fig. 1; 5 1

Fig.- 1 91s an elevationofthedelivery end of the washer to which the'upending and cover-applying mechanism is attached, and showing the relative positions of the covers and cans as they pass through the washer;

Fig. 20 is a sectional elevation through a part of the operating mechanism and illustrating a safety feature in connection with the operation of the second cradle; v

Fig. 21 is an elevation, on a larger scale, showing the latch mechanism by which the position of the delivery end of the cover-delivery mechanism may be controlled, and showing the same in normal position;

Fig. 22 is a similar figure showing the parts when moved to delivery position under the influence of a tall can; and

Figure 23 Ba view of the latch mechanism showing the parts in position to release the hinged delivery end of the cover track.

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the can and cover washer may beef any suitable construction, and the details thereof are per se no part of the invention, By way of example, a typical can and cover washer of this type is shown in the United States patent to John P. McKinley, No. 1,845,313, issued February 16,

1932, with theexception that in place of the mechanism therein shown for connecting the cover propelling dog bars with the can advancing dog bars, we have substituted a chain I (Fig. 2) at each end of the machine, the upper ends of the chains being connected to the cover advancing dog bar and the lower ends being con nected to the can advancing dog bars. Inter- -mediate of the ends, each chain is guided over idlers 2. While only one of such chains is shown,

it will be understood that a similar chain is similarly disposed and connected at the other end of the machine, with the exception that at the other end of the machine, the chain ends extend toward the delivery end of the machine. In Fig. 2, only the delivery end of such machine is shown.

In a washer of this type, the cans are conducted, while in inverted positions, through the washer on a track 3 (Fig. 1), by pivoted dogs 4 which are hinged or pivoted to dog bars 5 that are mounted for endwise reciprocation beneath notches 8 are shallow so that the covers may be propelled out of the notches and along the cover track 1 by pivoted pawls 9 which are hinged to a reciprocating cover dog bar I0. Each chain l is connected at its upper end to the cover dog bar It], and at its lower end to the can advanctions in which they are washed and treated. The

ing dog bar 5, so that when the can dog bar is advancing a can toward the delivery or discharge end of the washer, the dog bar 10 will be retracted through the chain I at the entrance end of the machine. Similarly, when the dog bars 5 are retracted, they will'act through the chain. 1 at the delivery end of the machine to pull the cover advancing dog bar tothe right and advance the covers from one station to another and towards the cover delivery end of the machine. These are features of prior machines and are not part of this invention, but a brief description thereof has been necessary to understand the application thereto of the improved can upending and cover applying meana, v

motor ll (Fig. 19) which through a belt [2 drives a speed reduction mechanism [3, and the latter through a sprocket I4 and a chain I5 drives a sprocket wheel I6 (Fig. 1) on a power shaft I1 which is mounted in an auxiliary frame A at the delivery end of the washer which also mounts the upending and cover applying mechanism. The shaft I! carries a pinion I8 which meshes with and drives a larger gear l9 fixed on a shaft 20 that also is rotatably supported in the auxiliary frame A. On one face of the gear I9 is a cam having a suitable cam groove shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, in which operates a roller or cam follower 2| (Fig. 18) which is carried on a lever or arm 22. Arm 22 is fixed on a shaft 23 also rotatably mounted on the'frame A, and at its free end, is pivotally connected by a pin 24 to one end of a link 25, the latter being pivotally connected at its other end to the dog bars 5 of the can washer. Thus, the dog bars 5 are reciprocated through repeated cycles, each of which cycles is determined by the character and shape of the groove in the cam on the gear 19.

The cans, when discharged from the washer are in inverted positions, and disposed at the discharge end of the washer to receive the inverted cans is a primary cradle 26 which is fixed on a.

shaft 21 that is rotatably mounted in bearings 28 on frame A. The cradle is provided with arms 29 between which the sides of the inverted cans fall when discharged from the washer, and the bottom of the cradle 26 is provided with a foot 30 which is disposed to receive and support the open end of any inverted can which falls between the arms 29. The cradle 26 is disposed in the position shown in Fig. 1 when an inverted can is discharged into it from the washer and it will be noted that any can so received is disposed in a somewhat inclined position, with the open lower end of the can resting on the foot 30 and the side of the can between and supported by the arms 29.

This cradle 26 is rocked from the receiving position shown in Fig. 1, through the intermediate position shown in Fig. 3 into the discharge positicn shown in Fig. 6 by suitable mechanism. For this purpose, the cradle shaft 21 has fixed thereon an arm 3| (Fig. 18) and a link 32 is pivotally connected at one end by pin 33 to the free end of arm 3|. The other end of the link 32 is provided witha slot 34 which extends in a direction endwise thereof. A pin 35 carried on a crank arm 36, runs in the slot 34 of link 32. A plate 31 is .rotatably secured overthe free end of the pin 35,

and a helical tension spring 38 is connected at one end of the plate 3! and at its other end to a similar plate on the pin 33, with the spring 38 under tension so that it normally tends to hold the pin 35 at the inner end of the slot 34 but yields, for a purpose which will be later explained,

1 shown in full lines in Fig. 1, where it receives the inverted cans from the washer. It will be noted from Fig. 1 that when the cradle 26 hits the stop 39, the pin 35is at the upper end of the slot 34 sion the spring '38, the length of the slot being suificient to enable the arm 36 to pass through dead center and then pin 35 moves in the opposite directiqnalongthe slot 34 until it again meets the inner end of the slot, whereupon the link 32 will again be moved endwise to rock the cradle 26 from the position shown-in Fig. 1 through the position shown in Fig. 3, into the discharge position shown in Fig. 6. This idle movement of the crank arm 36 past dead 'centerwhile the cradle is held-stopped by the. stop 39, gives a time dwell or interval in which the cradle remains stationary in can receiving position, during which a can may be discharged from the Washer into the cradle, and then the cradle is rocked into the position in Fig. 6, which is also an inclined position, so that the can, which has been partially upended duringthe rocking of the cradle 26, will slide from the-cradle in a direction away from the foot 36 and intoa secon'darycradle .40 as shown in Fig. 6.

' The cradle 46 is suitably'supported in bearings 4| (Figs. 7 and 14) and has an arm 42 (Figs. 6, 7. and 14) extending therefrom and pivotally connected by pin 43 to one end of alink 44, the other end of which is pivotally connected by'pin '45 (Fig. 3) to an operating arm 46. The arm 46 is loosely mounted on a shaft 41, and fixed on :aeeam which operates-the cradle 26,-and the groove 6! is so designed that-the cradle 40 is rocked into a position to receive the partially upended can slidthe shaft 41 is an-arm 48 (Figs. 3 and 20) which extends alongside of the arm 46 and at its free end has an arcuate edge 49 whose center of curvpivotally mounted at 52 on the arm 46, and its free end rotatably supports a roller 53 which rides on the arcuate edge 49 and entersthe notch 50 therein. A compression spring 54 urges the arm,

5| in -a direction to hold the roller 53 in notch 50 and thus provide a yieldable drive between the arms 46 and 48, but when excessive resistance is encountered such as when the secondary cradle is jammed, the roller 53 .willbe forcedout of the notch 50 and will ride. along the arcuate edge which has a length such that the roller 53.wi1l not leave it, within the limitsof oscillation of the shaft 41. 1

Mounted on the arm 48 is a very sensitive electric switch 55, the operating button of which is normally held in closed position by a stem- 56 which is adjustably threaded through an ear 51 ing from the cradle 26, and then-to tip it into thefully upright position shown by dash lines in Fig 6 The cradle 40 is provided with arms 63 (Figs. 3 and 14) between which the side of the partially upended can isreceived. and'is also provided with spaced parallel bars-'64 (.FigsJS and 14) which serve as a foot to receive and support the bottom of the partially-upended can that is resting between arms 63. As the cradle 46 rocks from the receiving position shownin Fig. 3 clockwise in Fig. 6, the can resting therein will be tilted from the full line position'in Fig. 6 into the dash line position in that'figure. As the crad1e'40 moves into the dash line position in which it supports the can fully upright, thearms 64' which form the foot thereof move downwardly alongside of rails 65 which are disposed in parallel spaced relation to one another'and supported upon the frame A to form a tracker platform upon which the upended cansare deposited, and along which the upright cans may be moved to receive the covers. The upright cansdeposited upon the platform formed by the bars 65 are forcibly advanced into cover-receiving positions, as shown by the position of the upright can inaFig. 1, by any suitable advancing means which isoperated in timed relation to th cradles.

In this particular exampleguide bars 66 (Fig. 8) are disposed alongside of the platform bars 65 and have channel grooves 6'7- opening toward one another. A carriage 68 is disposed beneath the bars 65 and has upstanding side flanges which rise to a position .in alignment with the open .faces of the grooves 6'1, and these upstanding flanges of the carriage rotatably support rollers 69 which run in thegrooves 61 and provide a rolling support for the carriageBB. The carriage 66 is provided with dependin parallel arms 76 which have Vertically extending slots H therein.

on the pivoted arm-5|, so that when the roller53 is'in the notch 50, which is the normal operating I position, the stem 56 will be in engagement with the operating button of the switch 55 and will hold it depressed or in closed circuit position. When the roller 53 leaves the notch during an abnormal operating condition, the stem 56 will be carried out'of engagement with the operating button of switch and the switch which isurged I on the shaft 20, it will rotate continuously at the same rate as and intimed relation' to the arm 36 'An armv'l2 (Figs. 1, 8 and 9) extends between v the depending arms 10 of the carriage and carries a pin "which extends from both sides thereof into the slots II and mounts rollers 14 which ride in the grooves H endwisethereof. Whenthe arm '12 is rocked, the rollers 14 provide a sliding drive between 'it and the: carriage 68 and thus will reciprocate the carriage along the platform formed bythe bars 65.

The arm 12 is fixed on a shaft 15 .which'is rotatably'mounted in bearingsflfi provided on the frameA. A link 11 is pivotally connected at one end by a pin 18 to the arm 12 (Fig. 1), and at its other end by a pin 16 to an arm 86 which is also fixed on the shaft 23 that carries the arm 22 thatoperates the can-advancing dog bars 5 of the washer, so that whenever a can is advanced through the. washer, the carriage 68 will also a move to the right in Fig. 1. The carriage 68 (Figs. 8 and 9) supports a pair of dogs 8! by the pins 82. The dogs 8| are similar to the dogs 4 and are counterweighted to normally rise into the positions shown in Fig. 9,.at which" time the lower ends of the. dogs 8| rest uponthe bottom of the carriage 68. As shown in Figs. 6 and 10, these dogs 8| are yieldingly urged upwardly into positions to engage along the inner edge of I the depending flange forming the bottom of an upright can, when the carriage 68 is at its limit of movement to the left in Fig. 1, and then when -the-carriag'e 68 moves .tothe rightin Fig. 1, the

dogs 8| will advance along the platform formed by the bars 65, any can they engage irom'the position of the can shown by dash lines in Fig. 6

rods is inclined downwardly so that the covers roll down the same by gravity, and these rods'are directed laterally into positions over the path of travel of the cans and serve to discharge the covers upon the cans when the cans are in the cover-receiving position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. As the cans roll down the track toward the upended cans, they are tipped over into proper upright positions to descend upon the cans with the top uppermost, and for this purpose, the rod 83 is curved and brought over rods 85 and 86 as shown in Fig. 14.

Where only one size of can is to be run through the washer, the rods 83 to 86 are terminated at the proper level to discharge the properly positioned covers upon the tops of the cans, but where different size cans are to be run through the washer, provision has been made for auto matically adjustingthe delivery end of the cover track to cans of different heights, so that the covers will fall upon such cans in positions to descend thereon approximately horizontally. This adjustment for difierent size cans is illustrated in the drawings, and for this purpose, the rods 83 to 86 at their lower ends are secured to a supporting frame 81 (Fig. 1) and this frame also oscillatably mounts in bearings 88 a hinged track 'The frame A is provided at one side thereof with an upright frame B (Figs. 1, 12, 13 and 14) on the rods I99 by suitable bosses I92 through which the rods I99 pass. The arm 'I9I extends laterally from the upright frame B into a position above a can in cover-receiving position (Fig. 14) and on its underface carries a disk I93 of suitable material such as wood which will not scratch the can cover and which, when contacting the same, will be relatively quiet. The arm I9I carries a pin I94 (Fig. 14) which is pivotally connected to one end of a link I95 (Fig. 1), the other end of that link being pivotally connected by pin I196 (Figs. 1 and 3) to a lever I91 which is fixed on a shaft I98 that is rockably supported in the frame A. Also fixed on the end that forms a continuation of the cover track.

This hinged end of the track includes a. plate 89 (Figs. 13 and 14), which has upstanding flanges 99 at its opposite sides. The flanges 99 carry pins or stub shafts 9| 1 and 92 which are rotatably received in the bearings 88 on the frame 81, and the shaft 92 carries an arm 93 which mounts a weight 94. The weight .94 is slidable along the arm 93 but maybe secured in any desired position therealong by a set screw 95 in the weight which engages the arm. 93. The weight 94 thus tends to counter-balance to some extent the weight of the plate 89.

Wire guides 99 and 91 (Fig. 13) are securedv on the plate 89 so as to extend above the samea substantial distance and form approximate but separate continuations of the rods 84 and 85 respectively. As the cover slides down the track toward the plate 89, it is supported upon the rods 84 and B5 and confined thereagainst by the rod 83 which extends above the covers. When the cover passes over the hinged end of the cover track it is supported by the rod 98 and 91'. A stop 98 (Fig. 13) is carried by the frame 81- so as to extend beneath the plate 89 and limit its downward swinging movement, when it is released, to a position in which it is suitable for discharging the covers upon one of the shorter or smaller cans. This position is shown in Fig. 12. The plate 89 is also provided with a pin 99 (Figs. 2 and 13) which extends from one side thereof, and by this pin 99 the plate 89 is latched in elevated position in which it discharges the covers uponthe taller cans in az-manner which will be explained presently.

shaft I98 is an arm I99 which, at its end, rotatably supports a roller I I9 that rides upon the periphery of a .cam III which is also fixed upon the shaft 29 to rotate therewith.

Considering that the direction of rotation of the cam III is counterclockwise or in the direction of the arrow at in Fig.v 3, the roller H9 in Fig. 3 is starting to ride down the portion of the cam surface I I2 which leads toward the shaft 29, and the weight of the arm IM and its bosses I92 and link is sufiicient to cause the roller I I9 to follow the surface II2 which causes a descent of the presser arm 'I9I in the direction of the arrow b in Fig. 3. Asthis arm I9I descends, its disk I93 thereon will engagethe cover that has just been deposited upon. an upright can, and by its weight will press the cover downwardly and firmly into the mouth of the can. In Fig. 3, th presser arm thus force the cover firmly on the can.

The frame B is provided with a plate I I3 (Figs. 2, l2 and 13) which extends toward the hinged end of the cover track. A latch II l (Figs. 21 to 23 also) is hinged by pin H5 on this plat H3. The latch I I4 is provided with a nose I I6 (Fig. 22) and the latch is so weighted that it urges the nose I I6 into the path of travel of the pin 99, which is carried by the hinged end of the cover track, as shown in Fig. 21. When the hinged end of the cover track is engaged and swung upwardly by the passage of one of the taller cans therebeneath, the pin 99, in moving upwardly in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 21, will engage with the nose I I 6 ofthe latch I I4 and. cam it from the full line position into the dash line position, and then as it clears the nose, the latch will swing by gravity back into the position shown by the full lines in Fig. 21. When the plate 89 on the hinged end of the track is released, the pin 99 will be held upwardly by the nose I I8, as shown in Fig. 22, in a position to discharge the covers upon a taller can, as shown in Fig. .1. The shorter cans in passing into the cover-receiving position as moved by the carriage 68, passireelybeneath the plate 89 without elevating the latter, but the taller cans engage the plate 89 and cam it upwardly, as just ex plained, and it is important to release the hinged end of thetrack or plate 89 immediatelyafter it has delivered a cover to a can so that it may again descendintoits lower position, ready to deliver a cover to a shorter can, it being understood however, that if the next can is also a relatively tall can, it willagain elevate the plate 89 and'latch it as just described. I I

To release the plate, after it has delivered its cover, one of the bosses I02, which slidingly supports the presser arm IDI, is provided with a cam II'I (Figs. 3 and 12), which moves vertically with the presser arm and during its descent engages one end of a lever II8 which is pivoted at II9 to the plate I I3. The lever I I8 is disposed to engage against a pin I (Fig. 21) which is carried'on the latch H4 and rockthe latter. The lever I I8 is normallyolver-balanced so as to be I urged into contact with a stop pin I2I on the plate .I I3. When the cam III descends and rocks the lever II8, itwill be in a direction to cam the pin I 29 and latch II4into unlatched position, as

shown in Fig. 23,. and thus release the pin 99 on -j velocity to insure their travel fully into positions directly over the mouths of the cans, and inasmuch as the friction on the covers will vary to some'extent, depending upon the type of covers and the angular position of the hinged end of the track from which they are delivered, the slope of the track is sufiicient to give the cdvers ample velocity under all conditions, and then overshooting of the cover is prevented by supporting a bafile I22 (Figs. 12 and 14) from a bracketarm I 23 that extends forwardly from the upright frame B in the path of the discharged covers. The battle I22 is preferably formed of plates hingedly suspended from one another and from the arm I23, as shown in Fig. 12, and as the covers are delivered into positions above the cans,

they strike the baflle I23 and are stopped thereby in positions to fall in proper positions upon the cans. By having material velocity to the coversv as they move into positions above the cans and then stopping them by the bafile I22, the covers are more likelyto descend in a. normal manner upon the open mouths of the cans, instead of merely sliding into the tops of the cans at a low rate and assuming decidedly angular and different positions on the .tops of the cans.

The baffle I22 depends suff cient to stop the covers for the short cans as well as for the tall cans, and'yet when any can'moves out of the cover-receiving position with the cover thereon,

the baflie I22 will swing and allow passage of the can and the applied cover. When the hinged end of the cover track is lowermost for the shorter cans, the inclination of thecover is greater, and hence, there is a tendency for thecovers to drop into the can mouths at an angle instead of more squarely thereon. To remedy this, an upward fold I24 (Fig. 12) is placed in the plate 89, near its discharge edge, whichupfoldextends just high enough to be engaged slightly by the depending flange of the upright cover as the cover is about to be discharged, and this gives the forward edge of any cover suflicient upward movement or impulse to causeit to assume an approximately horizontal position when striking the bafile, as shown by the dash lines in Fig. 12, and thus settle properly upon a can, and particularly the shorter cans.

In order to avoid the danger of two covers going down the cover track and being deposited upon the same can, in case the cans and covers are not started properly through the machine, we provide a gate in the cover track for temporarily holding the covers and then releasing them exactly at the proper time for them to reach a can in cover-receiving position. For this purpose, a frame member I25 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) i connected between the rods 83 and 85 as shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, and a gate member I26 with angularly disposed arms is hinged to the bottom portion of this frame I25 as at 521. The arms of the member I26 make an obtuse angle between-them as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and when the member I26 is swung into the position shown in Fig. 1, one arm of the member is in the path of the head or flange of the cover as also shown in Fig. 3, which stops the cover from rolling down the track. At that time, the other arm of the gate member is below the path of travel of the flange or head of the cover.

When the gate member is rocked into the position shown in Fig. 4, the arm which has been holding the head flange of the cover, moves downwardly to release the flange as shown in Fig. 4, and the other arm of the gate member .arm of the gate member which moves upwardly to start the coverreaches its upper position, it position a tail I2'I thereof in a position to stop any other cover which is attempting to rolldown the runway and prevent it also from passing the gate member and reaching the can. This is shown in Fig. 4. When the gate member I 29 returns to the position shown in Fig. 3, the cover previously held back by the tail I2'I will be released and will roll down the track until stopped by the then upstanding arm of the gate member. 'To rock the gate member, it is pivotally connected by a pin I28 (Fig. 3) to one end of a link I29, the other end of that link being pivotally connected by a pin'I39 to one end of an arm I3I. The arm I3I is'flxed on a shaft 132 which is rotatably mounted in the frame'A, and the shaft 7 I 32 carries adjacent the path of travel of the I38 (Fig. 9). A weighted tail I39 on lever I3! urges lever I31 into "the position shown in Fig. 9 in which an end of the lever rises above the track bars on which the cans may rest, but which will bede'pressedto thelevel of the upper edges of the track bars 65 whena can rests on the'track bar 65 in 'a position to be advanced by the dogs Bl. Also fixed to the lever ,I3'I for rocking movement therewith, is an arm I40 having a laterally extending abutment I41.

When the lever I31 is in its raised position shown in Fig. 9, the arm I4 6 will be downwardly inclined and the abutment I41 when moving with the carriage 68', will travel below th pin I34 so as to clear the same. When the lever I31 is depressed by a can resting thereon, the arm I46 is elevated and place the abutment I4I thereof at a level such that when carriage 68 moves in a can-advancing direction, this abutment I4I will strike the pin I34 and rock it in a direction to cause the rocking of the gate member I26 and the'release of a cover just about as the can-advancing carriage reaches its limit of movement to the right in Fig. 3. Overtravel of the arm I3I by inertia of the connected parts will be prevented by a stop I42 in the path of movement of the arm I31 (Fig. 3). Thus, the release of covers by the gate member I 26 will be effected only when a can is moving into cover-receiving position and only one cover can be released for each can advanced into coverreceiving position.

t is desirable to also provide a-safety device for the operating means for the primary cradle in case a canbecomes jammed or improperly placed therein, and this safety mechanism for this cradle is shown more particularly in Figs. 16 and 17. Such a safety device is important where the jamming of a canis such as to prevent oscillation of the cradle, because as explained hereinb'efore, this cradle is driven directly from the main shaft 26 which is continuously rotating. Referring now particularly to Figs. 16 and 17, the safety device there illustrated employs an arm or crank I43 fixed to a hub I44 on a supporting arm I45 of the cradle 26. Keyed on the shaft '21 adjacent to but in spaced relation to the end face of that hub I44, is a disk or circular plate I41 in the periphery of which is formed an arcuate notch or depression I48.

A roller I49 (Fig. 16) is carried by an arm I56 pivoted at II to the free end of arm I45, and is yieldingly urged into the notch or recess I48 by a relatively strong compression coil spring I52 surrounding a, bolt or rod through a slot or bifurcation in the free end I54 of the arm I50 and at its inner end is screwed into the hub I44; The rod I53 extends radially with reference to the axis of the shaft 21, and the spring I52 is confined between the bifurcated part I 54 and a washer and nut or other adjustable confining means I56 at the extremity of the rod I53. A second circular disk or member I60 is loosely arranged on the shaft 21 adjacent to and in spaced, but face to face, relation with a face of the disk I41. A pin I6] is loosely arranged in an aperture in disk I41 so" as to extend parallel to the shaft 21, and one end of this pin normally engages in the bottom of a V shaped notch I62 formed ,in an end face of the hub I44 of the cradle 26. The other end of the pin I6I bears against the face of the disk I66. Disposed between the other face of the chsk I66 and a collar I64 arranged on the shaft I21, is a compression spring I65. This spring urges the disk I66 against the adjacent end of the pin. I6I and the other end of. this pin in. turn into. notch I62. Abutting against that face of disk I66 which is engaged by the spring I65, is the operating stem or button I66 of a sensitive switch I61 which is normally in closed circuit condition. When button I66 is depressed, it opens a circuit there? through.

I53, which passes In normal operation. thepressure of the spring I52 maintains the roller I49 in the notch I48 ofthe disk I41 which is keyed to the shaft 21. Thus, an effective driving connection is maintained between the shaft and its cradle for operating that cradle under normal conditions.

v Should, however, an obstruction of any kind ooour which would retard or prevent proper oscillation of the cradle 26, the movement of the cradleoscillating means will force the roller I46 out of the notch I48 of the disk I41 against the action of spring I52, whereupon the roller I46 will ride upon the periphery of the disk and permit the shaft 21 to continue its oscillation as long as the jamming of the cradle continues. Upon correcting the trouble, the cradle 26 must be manually rotated into operating position again bringing the roller I49 into alignment with notch I48 of the disk I41, whereupon the roller under the influence of the spring I52 will reenter the notch and resume its driving connec tion between the disk and the cradle with the parts in proper relation to one another.

When theroller I49 is forced out of the notch I46, the resulting rotation between the disk I41 and the adjacent hub I44 of cradle 26 will cause the pin I6I to be forced out of V-shaped notch I62, so that this end of the pin will ride upon the end face of said hub. A resulting endwise movement of the pin will cause the opposite end of the pin IEI to effect a movement of the disk I66 lengthwise of the shaft 21 in a direction away from the disk I41 and against the action of the spring I65, thereby depressing the stem or button I66 of the switch in a manner to open the circuit through the switch. The switch I5? (Fig. 17) and the sensitive switch of Fig. 20 are both connected to suitable mechanism for stopping the operation of the washer at the source of power in a manner which is well understood in the art.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 15, the gate member I26 is rocked by a link I68 which is pivotally connected at one end by pin I69 to the gate member and at its other-end by pin I16 to the crank I1I which is rockably mounted in a bearing I12 of the frame A. The crank IN is also pivotally connected by a pin I13 to one end of a link I14, the other end of such link being pivotally connected to a lever I15 which is pivoted at I16 to the frame A. The free end of lever I15 extends into the path of travel of the upright cans during their advancement into cover-receiving position, so that the cans themselves moving into cover-receiving position furnish the motive power for rocking the gate member I26 to release a cover. A suitable spring (not shown) returns the gate member I26 to cover restricting position.

The operation of the device is believed to be clear from the foregoing description, but it will be briefly summarized. The cans and covers are passed through the usual washer in the usual manner. in inverted positions, and the cans as they are discharged are received, while still inverted, in the primary cradle 26, a can being shown in Fig. 1 as in the process of being received in the cradle 26, and the position of the can when fully received in the cradle being shown by the dash lines in Fig. 1. The cradle 26 is then rocked to carry its foot 3% upwardly through the position shown in Fig. 3 and into the position shown in Fig. 6 which is its other limited position at which time the can is delivered from-the cradle 26 into the secondary cradle lfliwhich 'has inthe meantime been rocked-into tions, and discharged, while still inverted, at

the'position' shown in Fig. 6' for this purpose.

"Then, the cradle '40 isrock ed to carry the can fully into upright'po'sition'as shown by the dash lines in Fig. 6, r and during "this time the 1 cradle" 25 is returned to're'ceive anew can from the" ,washer.' I

' 3 After the can is deposited upright on theplat form formed by the bars- 65, the carriage-68 is 10 shift the upright caninto' 'the cover-receiving position in Fig"; 1." When the upended can-was moved to the rightin Figs- '1 and 6 and dogs' 8l depositedfin 'upr'ightf position on the platform formed by the bars 65,,it depressed the lever 1.31 as shownin Fig. '10, which'shifted the abutment HI into the effective position shown in 10; Then, when the carriage 68 moves to advance the can, the abutment l M will engage the pin" 1 I34 on arm l33 'and'rock-itina direotiontor'ock I 1 the gate member and releases, cover. There leased cover then rolls downthe track 'and is turnedzoverinto a horizontal position and def posited'upon the can. If the can which is so advanced into coverreceiving'position is a short can, it passes 'unfclerthe hinged end of the track or plate 89 without elevating the latter and the cover is deposited upon the shorter can without bein obligatedto' fall through too great a 'distance. Any-over shooting is stopped by'thes'u's pended baflle I229" If, however, any can moving into cover-receiving position is 'a relatively" tall can, its top will engage beneath the plate 89 and liftit so as' to the nose I |B"of latch H4 as shown by Figs. 21

- "1:023, whereupon the latch H4 will returnto the position shown iri'Figl1- '22 and latch'the plate 89 in: elevated position suitable for rdelivering 'the 'cover'upon the taller-can. Thereafter, the presser arm 'llll will descend and press the cover into firm engagement with the can and since the presser arm' descendsentirely bygravity, it automatically accommodates itself to cans of difier I ent heights, b bem-g stopped earlier in its descent i by the taller cans.- As it descends, however, the cam lll carried thereby rocks the lever 118' and the latter rocks the latch lld into the position shown inFig. 23, so as to release the pin 99. The

.plate 89 or hingjed end of the cover tracksore leased then :descendsinto its lowermost position.-

carry its pin 99 upwardly, thereby camming aside If there is anyjamming which would interfere with the normal rotationof the parts for upending'the cans, the safety devices which have, been wouldbe released even'though one might be on the cover track and-heldvby the gate member It will be understood'that various changes in the details and arrangements of parts, which: have been herein'described and illustrated in order to explainthe nature of the invention, may be'made by those skilled in the 1 art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in-the appended claims.

'Weclaim: v H o 1. In a rnachine for washing" milk cans and their covers in which the cans areconvey'ed along a selected horizontalpath'while in' inverted posiregularly periodic intervals in a horizontal direction at the end of said path into'an upending mechanism, that improvement which comprises an L shaped cradle mounted for oscillation about a horizontal axis back and forth from one position in which the open side of the- L receives the inverted cans and'the cans rest upon the base of the Land leanagainst the side, of the L, toanother position in which the base of the L has been carried upwardly until the can is upended and gravity causes the can to slide along the arm of the L and leave that cradle, a second L shaped cradle disposed to receive therein while in an inclin'ed position any upended cans'liding from the first cradle, and tiltable on a fixed axis to set the upended can upright, a track for slidingly supporting upended cansgand disposed to form an" in'ea ns in timed relation to'one another, to receive inverted 'cans' in succession in said first cradlefupend each one individually and in succession in said first cradle'until it slides therefrom, receive it upended in said second cradle, set'it upright, and advance it along said track.

i2.-I n-a machine-for upending milk cans in whichthe cans aredischarged while inverted, in ,a horizontal direction that improvement for upending the cans'which'comprises a cradle mounted for oscillation about a horizontal axis back'a'nd forth between two positions, in one of which itreceives a discharged, inverted can at the end of said path and supports it in one inclined position, and'in another of which positions the can is upended and is free while in another inclined position, to slide downwardly from thecradle'by gravity, a second cradledisposed in a position to receive and support the upended but still inclined can received from the first cradle in said still'inclined position and tilt able about a fixed axis from that receiving positioninto a position in'which the can'is approximat'ely upright, a track, having portions overrunning horizontally'with the portion of the second cradle on which the bottoms of the'cans rest as they are brought into upright positions and which receives and slidingly supports the upended cans. as they are brought upright, means engageable with the upright cans resting on said track'for moving them away from said second I cradle and means for oscillating'said first cradle and tilting said second' cradle and operating said can'feeding-means in timed relation to one anupend th'em until they slide downwardly in an inclinedpath-into said second .cradle, and by the latter setthem upright to clear the first cradle sion.

and advance them along said track in succes 3. In a machine for" washing milk which the cans'are'conveyed along a selected horizontal path while-in inverted positions, and

discharged, while still inverted, in a horizontal direction at the end of said path, into an upending rnechanism, that improvement in the uriendj and'forth between two positions, in one of which it receives a discharged, inverted can'at the end cans in of said path and supports it in an inclined position, and in another of which positions the can is upended and also inclined free to slide downwardly from the cradle by gravity, a' second cradle disposed to receive and support the upended can received from the first cradle in an inclined position and tiltable about a fixed axis int'o aposition in which the can is upright, a track disposed to form a continuation of the portion of the second cradle on which the bottoms of the cans rest as they are brought into upright positions and which receives and slidingly supports the upended cans as they are brought upright, means engageable with the upright cans resting on said track for movingthem away from said second cradle, and means for oscillatingsaid first cradle and tilting said second cradle and operating said can feeding means in timed relation to one another, to receive inverted cans in;the first cradle, .upend them until they slide downcradles and can advancing, means in timed relawardly in an inclined p'ath into said second cradle, and by the latter set them upright and advance them along said track in succession 4. In a machine for washing milk cans in which the cans'are conveyed along a selected horizontal path while in invertedpositions, and-discharged while still inverted, in a horizontal direction at the end of said path, into an upending mechanism, that improvement in said mechanism which comprises a cradle mounted for oscillation about a horizontal axis back and forth between two positions, in one of which it receives a discharged, inverted can at the end of said path and supports it in an inclined position, and inanother of which positions the can is upended and is free to slide downwardly from the cradle by gravity, a second cradle disposed to receive and support the up ended can received from the first cradle in an inclined position and tiltable about a fixed axis into a position in which the-can is upright, the portion of said second cradle against which the bottom of the upended can abuts being formed of a plurality of bars spaced apart, a track formed of members extending above the upper faces of and alongside of said bars when the bars are horizontal so that when an upended can in said second cradle is shifted into upright position, the can will automatically engage with and be supported by said track, and means engageable with cans resting on said track for feeding the same along said track.

5. In a machine for washing milk cans in which the clean cans are discharged while in inverted positions in a horizontal directionythat improvement for upending the cans, which comprises, a cradle oscillatable back and iorthabou-t a horizontal axis between two positions, in one of which the cradle receives an inverted can as it is discharged, the cradle having a foot which is lowermost in said one position to engage the open mouth of the, can and prevent it from sliding downwardly in said cradle, said oscillation being in a direction to" carry said foot upwardly as the can moves toward upended position, said cradle being free of any obstruction to movement of v a cantherein in a direction-away from said foot, a second cradle tiltable backand forth about a fixed axis between two positions, in one of which it receives a can from the firstcradle and supports it at its sides and bottom, and in another of which .it supports a can in upright position, a platform adjacent the second cradle when in its second positionfor receiving upright cans from said second cradle, means for advancing cans along said platform, and means for operating said tion to one another, in which a discharged can is received in the first cradle rocked thereby in a direction to carry the open mouth of the can upwardly and discharge it into the second cradle, and by the latter be fully upended to clear the first cradle and delivered to said platform, and then advanced along the platform.

6. In a machine for washing milk cans in which the clean cans are discharged while in inverted positions in a horizontal direction, that improvementior upending the cans, which comprises, a pair of cradles disposed adjacent one another and tilta'ble back and iorth about fixed horizontal axes, and each of which is formed to receive and alone support a, can, one of said cradles being operable to receive an inverted, discharged can and tilt it part way into upright position, stop and deliver it to said second cradle, and-then return backwardly to can receiving position, and said second cradle being operable to fully support the can received from the first cradle and continue the movementof said can into fully upright position to clear the first cradle when the latter returns to can-receiving position, a platform for receiving from the second cradle the fully upended cans, means for advancing the cans along said platform, and means for operating said cradles and advancing means in timed relation to one another to receive said inverted cans in the first cradle, partially upend them and deliver them to the second cradle and fully upend them in the second cradle, and then advance them along said platform in succession.

7. In a machine for washing milk cans in which the cans are conveyed along a selected horizontal path while in inverted positions, and discharged while still inverted, in a horizontal direction at the end of said path, into an upending mechanism, that improvement in said mechanism which comprises a cradle mounted for oscillation about a horizontal axis back and forth between two positions, in one of which it receives 'a discharged, inverted can at the end of said path and supports it in an inclined position, and in another of which positions the can is upended and is free to slide downwardly from the cradle by gravity, said cradle having a long portion extending in one direction from its axis of oscillation and at its end in that directionterminating in a laterally extending foot toreceive and support the lower open end of an inverted can as discharged, the cradle also having a relatively short portion extending in the other direction from said axis for amaterially lesser extent than in said one direction, a second cradle disposed to receive and support the upended can received from the first cradle in an inclined position and tiltable about a fixed axis into a position in which the can is upright, said second cradle being L-shaped with the arm of the- L upstanding and inclined when in can receiving position for receiving the side of a can sliding. from the first cradle, the portion of said second cradle against which the bottom of the upended can abuts being-formed of a plurality of bars spaced apart, a track formed of members extending above the upper faces of and alongside of said bars when the bars are horizontal so that when'an upended can in said second cradle is shifted into upright position, the can will automatically engage with and be supported bysaid track, and means engageable with cans resting on said track for feeding the same along said track.

8. In a machine for washing milk cans in which the end of said path, into an upending mechanism, that improvement in said mechanism which comprises a cradle, means mounting said cradle for oscillation about a horizontal axis back and forth between a can-receiving position and a can-upended position, and having a shaft, a coupling member mounted on said shaft and having a recess in its surface, an arm member also mounted on said shaft, a roller mounted on said arm member for movement against said surface and engageable in said recess when aligned there with to eifect a 'yieldable driving connection between said members, spring means urging said roller against said surface and into said recess,

and determining by its pressurethe driving torque s between said members necessary to disengage said 'roller from said recess, means for transmitting i the cans are conveyed along a selected horizontal path while in inverted positions, and discharged while still inverted, ina horizontal direction at the end of said path, into an upending, mechanism, that improvement in said mechanism which comprises a cradle, means mounting said cradle transferred from cradle to cradle, and depositedfor oscillation about a horizontal axis back and forth between a can-receiving position and a can-upended position, and having a shaft,a coupling member mounted on said shaft and, having said members, the other of said members being coupled to said shaft, the angular distance between said two cradle positions being less than a full revolution, a second cradle disposed'to receive and support the upended can received from the first cradle in an inclined position and tiltable about a fixed axis into a position in which the can is upright, the portion of said second cradle a recess in its surface, an arm member also, mounted on said shaft, a roller mounted onsaid arm member'formovement against said surface roller from said recess, means for transmitting oscillatory, back and forth movement'to oneof nately in opposite directions about a horizontal axis between can-receiving position, in which the base of the L is lowermost and the open side faces said end of the path, to receive inverted cans and supportthem'in an inclined position resting upon the base of the L and leaning against the'upstanding arm of the L, and a can-discharging position in which the base of the L is uppermost and the side of the L inclined sufii ciently to discharge the largely upended can downwardly by gravity along the side of the L with the can base foremost, the base of the L being further than the top of the L from said axis, a second L shaped rigidcradle also pivoted to oscillate on a fixed pivot alternately in opposite directions between an inclined can-receiving position in which the L is generally upright but tipped backwardly somewhat and will receive an upended can sliding from the first cradle when the base of the L of that cradle'is uppermost, and a fully upright position, in which the can supported thereby isupright and clears the top end of the L of the first cradle while the latter moves back to can-receivingposition, a platform alined with the base end of the L of the second cradle when the L thereof is fully upright, means for moving upright cans from said second cradle and along said platform, and means for oscillating said cradles and operating said moving means in coordinated movement relatively to oneanother, to cause an inverted canto be received, upended,

on said platform by successive operations.

11. In a machine for washing milk cans and their covers in which the cans are conveyed along a selectedhorizontal path while in inverted positions, and discharged, while still inverted, at regularly periodic intervals in a direction at the end of said path, into an upending mechanism, that improvement which comprises an Lshaped cradle mounted for oscillation alternately in opposite directions about a horizontal axis between can-receiving position in which the base of the- L is lowermost and the open side facessaid end of the path,.to receive inverted cans and support them in an inclined position resting upon the base of the L, and leaning against the upstanding arm of the L, and a can-discharging position in which the base of the L is uppermost and the side of the L inclined sufiiciently to discharge the largely upended can downwardly by gravity along the side of the L with the can base foremost, the base of the L being further than the top of the L from said axis, a second L shaped rigid cradle against which the bottom of the upended can abuts being formed of a plurality of bars spaced apart, a track formed of members extending also pivoted to oscillate on a fixed pivot alternately in opposite directions between an inclined can-receiving position in which the L is generally upright but tipped backwardly' somewhat and above the upper faces of andalong'side of said bars when the bars are horizontal so that when an upended can in said second cradle is shifted into upright position, the can will automatically engage with and be supported by said track, and

will receive an upended can sliding from the first cradlewhen the base of the L of that cradle is uppermost, and a fully upright position, the in- 'tersection between the side and base of the L of said second cradle being disposed a substantial distance from and in such relation to the axis of oscillation of that cradle, that when'that cradle moves from can-receiving, inclined position to fully upright position, any can supported thereon will be carried horizontally away from the axis of the first cradle, sufiiciently to clear the end of that cradle opposite from the base as said first cradle returns to its can-receiving position.

FRANK L. KLAIBER. HARLAN C. CLARK. 

